Galesburg Public Library

Donating

Financial gifts are used to augment the library’s books and materials budgets and undertake building projects. Your contributions are fully tax deductible. Financial gifts may be given online and will be processed by the Galesburg Public Library Foundation. Many employers double or triple an employee’s gifts to charitable organizations through their matching gift program. Ask your human resource office for details and the necessary forms. In addition to gifts during your lifetime, consider an estate gift to continue the library’s work for generations to come. Please contact the director at (309) 343-6118 or by email for additional information.

A contribution to the library is a wonderful way to honor a friend or family member, to commemorate a birthday, retirement, anniversary, graduation, or to recognize the death of a friend or family member. Library staff are available to help you choose appropriate items. Please contact the director at (309) 343-6118 or by email for additional information. You may also make a secure online gift.

The library is currently not accepting large donations of used books, audio CDs, music CDs, or DVDs. If you would like to donate a new item to be added to the collection, you may contact the library at 309-343-6118. All items added to the collection must meet the guidelines established in the Materials Selection Policy.

The library is interested in receiving donations of materials documenting the history of Galesburg and Knox County. The library acknowledges gifts for tax purposes, but cannot be responsible for assessing the monetary value of gifts. Contact the library’s archivist at (309) 343-6118 or by email for additional information.


Make a Suggestion

Is there something you would like to see the library purchase for the collection? The library welcomes suggestions for additions to the collection. If you are a Galesburg resident, you can email us to suggest that the library purchase a particular book, music CD, DVD, audiobook, magazine or other item. All requests are considered and evaluated according to the library’s Material Selection Policy. There is no guarantee that any suggested materials will be added to the collection. If an item is purchased, we will place you on a reserve list for it. Please include as much of the following information as possible: title, author, publisher, date of publication, item type if not a book, your full name, your library card number, your phone number, and your email address. Our email address is reference@galesburglibrary.org. Thank you!


Volunteering

Adopt-a-Shelf Program

Do you love books? Why not adopt some? The library is looking for detail-oriented volunteers for our Adopt-a-Shelf program. Adopt-a-Shelf volunteers help keep the library tidy and accessible by maintaining orderly shelves, making sure books, DVDs, and audiobooks are in good condition for loan, and reducing the frustration our patrons experience when books are misplaced. Adopt-a-shelf volunteers donate their time to care for one section of the library by “adopting” that section. Sections are assigned based on volunteer interest and availability. All Adopt-a-Shelf volunteers commit to caring for their section for a minimum of one hour every two weeks; however, volunteers are welcome to spend more time if they like. Responsibilities of Adopt-a-Shelf volunteers include keeping books in numeric or alphabetical order, checking the condition of books, assuring that each book belongs to Galesburg Public Library, and dusting or cleaning shelves as needed. Volunteers will have their efforts recognized, if they choose, with an “Adopted by” nameplate placed in their section. Adopt-a-shelf volunteers wishing to care for shelves in the Adult Fiction, Biography, Large Print, and Audiovisual Sections must be 18 years of age or older; those wishing to care for shelves in Young Adult or Children’s sections must be 15 (9th grade) or older.

Stop by the Reference Desk to fill out an application or fill out our online Volunteer Application .

Other Volunteer Opportunities

Join a list of “on-call” volunteers who are interested in helping the library with special projects – either one-time or long-term – as they arise. Examples of these types of projects include but are not limited to:

  • Weeding, pruning, and caring for the landscaping around the library
  • Affixing labels to books under the supervision of a librarian
  • Assisting Children’s Room staff with special events and activity nights
  • Assisting with various tasks associated with the annual Big Read
  • Assisting with the Friends of the Library Book Sale
  • Helping to assemble the library scrapbook
  • Various library cleaning projects, as needed

Special projects volunteering is an ideal choice for individuals who want to help the library but are unable to commit to an ongoing set schedule. Age requirements will vary based on the task. To learn more or to receive an application, please contact the volunteer coordinator at (309) 343-6118, at reference@galesburglibrary.org, or at the Reference Desk.

Please provide an emergency contact:

APPLICANT'S STATEMENT: I certify that answers given herein are true and complete. I authorize investifation of all statements contained in this application as may be necessary in arriving at a volunteer placement decision. I understand that volunteers working with children under 18 may be subject to a background check at the library's discretion.

We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origins, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.